International heritage show 2010: the celebration of the Mediterranean heritage

(from the 4th to 7th of November 2010, Paris, France)

An event in the agenda of European heritage that should not be missed, the International Heritage Show in Paris is both a showcase for business excellence, places and heritage sites, as well as a preferred meeting place of both businesses and the public who are interested in heritage. The theme of the 2010 show is “the Mediterranean heritage”.

The International heritage show in Paris has henceforth become an event in the agenda of European heritage that should not be missed. It is both a showcase for business excellence, places and heritage sites, as well as a preferred meeting place of both businesses and the public who are interested in heritage. In 15 years, the fair has attracted about 280,000 visitors and more than 3,600 exhibitors. It has also hosted 368 conferences on important issues related to heritage. This intense activity, which combines culture with economy, contributes to the economic development of companies working in the field as well as to the dissemination of the latest scientific assets among professionals. Last but not least, it aims to raise awareness among the general public in terms of heritage.

The theme of the 2010 show is “the Mediterranean heritage”; the show goes straight to the heart of the current political, economic and cultural dynamic around the Mediterranean. “The Mediterranean basin is a cultural resource of exceptional variety and an inexhaustible reservoir of talent and know-how. This show intends to celebrate this thousand-year-old heritage, thanks to the presence of exhibitors that work for its protection and conservation, a series of conferences led by specialists and the presentation of exhibitions. All this will also help to address the many issues and present the achievements related to Mediterranean heritage” says Mr. Serge Nicole, president of the show.

Euromed Heritage at the International Heritage Show 2010

As the main initiative of European Union for heritage development in the region, the Euromed Heritage Programme was invited to attend the fair, helping to fuel the debate of professionals and support the activities of public awareness on current issues of Mediterranean heritage. In addition to the presentation of activities developed in the region by the programme since its inception in 1998 – the networking of professionals and cultural institutions, educational activities and activities to increase awareness of civil society and communities, the creation of sustainable tours, rehabilitation and preservation, etc. – Euromed Heritage will host the conference “The areas of recent and modern heritage: an asset for Mediterranean cities” on the urban architectural heritage of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “The architectural and urban heritage of the recent and modern periods in the Mediterranean proposes topics for reflection that bring out the usual patterns on heritage. This conference aims to present some of the recent heritage, including architectures and neighbourhoods, which were made during the colonial period and now represent the vital core of the cities - Casablanca, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis, Port Said, Damascus...”, says the architect Romeo Carabelli, who will chair the conference on November 4 at 10 h 30.

The revitalisation of the traditional architecture in the Mediterranean region through the involvement of the civil society will be the main subject of the conference organised on November, 4, at 2 p.m., by Rehabimed Association/Montada project. “Rehabimed was funded to promote the sustainable rehabilitation of traditional houses and the social and economic development of historic city centres in the Mediterranean. Our contribution to this issue is the conception of a specific « Rehabimed methodology »for conservation which is available for professionals and politicians in the region. Participation and involvement of civil society and local authorities in the preservation and valorization of this heritage are the core activities of Montada project. Various activities are being developed in six cities in the following countries: Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia”, states Xavier Casanovas, President of Rehabimed and Montada project manager.